Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-09-09
THE MYSTERIOUS DOG.
Whcnce Did Ho Come, and Whore
Did He Coz

Dld He COZ
II have no story of ghost or witch,
no tale of mcanny horrors to rclatc,n
said old Dir. Gray, in pause of the
conversation to which he had been an
intent listener The wild winds with
out, the sweeping of the gale across the
lake beyond the harbor, and the gruc-
some night had suggested tales of n
supernatural order, and each had added
his mite of experience. But con-
tinucd the doctor, 81 am reminded of n
singular incident that happened during
the second year of my practicc-onc
that regarded at the time as warn
ing of something that was coming into
my life; but as time glided smoothly by
md nothing came of it, | ceased TO
think of the matter.
"As you all know, located in the
beginning in the thrifty village of
haven, overlooking the Mohawk. A
busy little town it was in those days.
The railroad magnates had placed
their round-houscs there, giving us
the finest eating house on the line, and
caused all the noontimc and early even
ing trains to stop there for hot meals.
The farmers used it for II market place,
bringing their cheese and butter there;
they sold them to the dealers who
came up from the large towns on the
Hudson and below, Through the sum-
mer weather the farmers wives drove
their sleepy nags along the dusty coun-
try roads, with great baskets of eggs,
pots,of butter, tho clcarcst of honey, and
the purest OF maple syrup, to sell at
the depot or village stores. Every
thing seemed prosperous, everybody
was busy. / soon gathered an excel
lent practicei not so much due to my
own merit, perhaps, as to the fact that
providence, or fate, seemed to will it so.
when hung out my sign before
modest office on Main street, there were
two physicians in town; one the old
doctor, the other young man who died
of consumption about six morths after.
That same fall the old doctor, driving
fractions horse over the frozen
ground, was thrown from his sulky,
and picked up ut the breaking of the
gray winters day by working-mcn 60
ing TO their days labor He hovered
between life and death for weeks, and
not until June, with its soft, bland air
was come did he appear ON the village
streets. The intervening time was one
of unusual sickness, and everybody
was, in II measure, compelled TO try
the new doctor. tried TO attend to it,
and what thoy did first from necessity
they afterwards did from choice, and
almost every family was mine before
the six months We're ended. Yot | WAS
not content, for like Alexander of old,
sighed for other worlds'to conquer.
"Some five miles from the village
lived Farmer Miles on one of the finest
farms in the town. lIc inherited il
and the grand old homestead from his
father, and beside his owa immediate
family, which was large, three sisters
and two brothers owned legacios in the
farm and homes in the mansion as long
as they desired TO claim them. More
than this, some eight or ten families of
relatives in that vicinity had fashion
OF founding their faith in politics, re-
}igion and physics upon that of. Farmer
Miles. The way he voted was the way
they voted, the church that he attended
they also attended, aud sooner or later
the doctor he employed was the one
that they would employ. Therefore to
secure the practice OF the farmer meant
long list of new names on the columns
of my day book with pay galore-and
this was the world l0Rgcd to conquer
sit was the second winter of my
practice, well on toward spring, when
reaching home at a late dinner hour 1
found summons awaiting me TO 20 at
once to Farmer Miles Taking n mo-
ment TO snatch hurried dinner i was
of. The first mile of my way led up
the river through the long main street
of the town. The lamp-lighter was
just lighting his lamps. The gayly |
dressed people, the clamor of bells,
and lights flashing from shop windows
made the scene bright one. Turning
from the thoroughfare my route led
over the hills at the north through
thickly settled farm ng country. Here
and there as passed by, / saw be-
lated farmer doing his chores, ralSing
down the hay for his horses, fastening
the cows in their staunchions, locking
the great barn doors, and making all
things snug for n winters night
my directions had been: Drive on
the Harrington turnpike TO the great
red gate, then turn to the left. Reach
ing this point, where once had been
toll-gate, i turned into II narrow,
drifted and lonely road, country lane
where the SHOWS had been piled from
fence top 10 fence topi but they were
broken through and packed now.
Down this dreary road drove. There
were no comers and gocrs, for no one
Travelled this way unless their destina-
ton was the Miles farmhouse There
were no houses TO pass il ! except u low
school-house in q grove of pines, and
a weather-beaton barn far aiield. The
moon was almost Mt its full. and was
high in the eastern sky, lighting Up the
whole landscape, bringing out every
object clear cut and distinct against
the glislening snow No sounds met
thc eas gave The mulgled now Of tiny